How much of the Mass can you miss before it becomes a mortal sin?

[KelseyBelsey]

How much of the Mass can you miss before it becomes a mortal sin?

Here’s the story. My First Communion classes were in the morning after 8 o clock mass but before 11 o clock mass. It was Palm Sunday, I think, that day. I went to the class, but decided that instead of going to 11 o clock mass, we would rather go to 6 o clock. But my mom came home later than expected, and we missed something like 15 minutes or so of the Mass–we came right at the end of the homily, I think. I didn’t confess. I had my First Communion.
…SO.

Am I OK? I had my First Communion Easter '11 and I took communion following that at later Masses. Was my First Communion valid?

 

[Stylites]

I don’t understand. If you are taking classes for the reception into the Church then there’s usually a scheduled time and place to receive First Holy Communion with the other candidates in your class; are you saying you were given the option of selecting a variety of Mass times when you may first receive?

 

[fermat]

You are fine. The church does not dictate the amount of the Mass you should be at. It is all about your intentions. You tried to be on time, but you could not control everything. There is no problem here.

The reason the church does not dictate the amount of time is probably because people have a tendency to do the least of their obligation. If the church said you must attend at least half, there would be people there for half.

 

[ConstantineTG]

There is no such teaching on how much of Mass constitutes missing Mass or not.

 

[The_Reginator]

When I converted in 1996 I was told that you were only late for Mass (which needs to be mentioned in Confession) if you arrive too late to hear the Gospel.
I understand that that is the traditional teaching. In the last few decades a lot of traditional teaching (or guidelines?) have been tossed out the window, often for the sake of convenience. (And we wouldn’t want to make people feel bad, now would we…)
Sorry. It’s been a rather difficult day –

 

[ConstantineTG]

When I converted in 1996 I was told that you were only late for Mass (which needs to be mentioned in Confession) if you arrive too late to hear the Gospel.
I understand that that is the traditional teaching. In the last few decades a lot of traditional teaching (or guidelines?) have been tossed out the window, often for the sake of convenience. (And we wouldn’t want to make people feel bad, now would we…)
Sorry. It’s been a rather difficult day –

I don’t believe that is “traditional” although that belief has been floating around for some time. I’ve heard that too, but I’ve also heard other opinions from other priests. I guess a better rule of thumb is that you do your best to arrive on time before Mass starts, and if you are late for some reason beyond your control then you still attended Mass even if you just came in time for the last word of the Final Blessing.

 

[bmullins]

If I had to choose a time when it’s ‘too’ late to enter mass, especially daily mass, I would think that if the consecration has begun then one should probably not enter. During our daily masses we often count out the hosts before the consecration begins and have just enough for the 10-24 that are present. Even then though, I would think that if someone really needs Jesus then they are welcome to the table. The priest can always go to the tabernacle for more if he needs, sometimes we miscount anyway.

 

[KelseyBelsey]

Thanks. And eventually in later confessions I did confess it.

Stylites, it was last year. I’m not taking them now. We all had or First Communion at Easter ‘11 eleven o’ clock mass.

The reason the church does not dictate the amount of time is probably because people have a tendency to do the least of their obligation. If the church said you must attend at least half, there would be people there for half.

Hm.

 

[porthos11]

When I converted in 1996 I was told that you were only late for Mass (which needs to be mentioned in Confession) if you arrive too late to hear the Gospel.
I understand that that is the traditional teaching. In the last few decades a lot of traditional teaching (or guidelines?) have been tossed out the window, often for the sake of convenience. (And we wouldn’t want to make people feel bad, now would we…)
Sorry. It’s been a rather difficult day –

The traditional rule of thumb is that one has to be present for the Offertory, Consecration, and Communion of the priest.

Further, even if one were too late for the Offertory, it does not make it an automatic mortal sin. One can still attend Mass later in the day to fulfill one’s obligation. It only becomes a mortal sin if no effort was made to hear Mass (again if necessary) without serious reason and Sunday comes to an end.

 

[thistle]

How much of the Mass can you miss before it becomes a mortal sin?

Here’s the story. My First Communion classes were in the morning after 8 o clock mass but before 11 o clock mass. It was Palm Sunday, I think, that day. I went to the class, but decided that instead of going to 11 o clock mass, we would rather go to 6 o clock. But my mom came home later than expected, and we missed something like 15 minutes or so of the Mass–we came right at the end of the homily, I think. I didn’t confess. I had my First Communion.
…SO.

Am I OK? I had my First Communion Easter '11 and I took communion following that at later Masses. Was my First Communion valid?

In the first place you have to separate fulfilling your Sunday Mass obligation and receiving Communion. One is not conditional upon the other.

There are many opinions on what being too late means to fulfill the obligation but the bottom line is that the Church has no document specifying this. The Church simply states you must participate (attend) in the Mass.

With regard to receiving Communion, provided that you are in a state of grace and have fasted at least one hour before Communion you could actually come into Church and go directly into the Communion line.